George Osborne is becoming his own worst enemy

We know that the Chancellor wants to be prime minister, but by trying to be
too clever he is setting traps for himself

Chancellor George Osborne speaks at the Conservative party conference Photo: Eddie Mulholland/The Telegraph

By John McTernan

3:10PM BST 05 Oct 2015

"We are the builders". The challenge and the intent are clear. There is a centre ground – and we must build on it. As ever, though, Osborne's speech read better than it was delivered. He still hasn't found a way to convert his personal charm into an auditorium speech. But he has decided to pitch himself as a kinder, gentler Chancellor – one who only asks for the opportunity to serve.

"The only other Chancellor who has so openly coveted No 10 is Gordon Brown"

Osborne's speech opened and closed with a reference to the "clear instructions" given by the British people in the election last May. But a wasn't about the public, it was about George:

"Becoming an MP in the North of England has changed me – made me realise that great as our capital is – there is so much more to this country.

"And I've changed in the five years I have done his job too.

"I've always been able to see the problems with government.

"Now I understand too the power of government to drive incredible, positive change.

"I don't want to do this job just to occupy the office.

"I'm here to make changes that last ..."

This is obviously a pitch for the top job. But that's an open secret. The only other Chancellor who has so openly coveted No 10 is Gordon Brown. And in so many ways Osborne shows that he has learnt from the example of Brown. The makeover. The press strategy. The promotion of known – and, by and large, talented – supporters through he government. The absolute loyalty to the PM. George will not be making the same mistakes as Gordon. So far, so beltway. What of the electorate? Will they like what they see?

Well, we know there will be a lot of colour and movement involving Osborne in the coming years – high visibility jackets and yellow helmets. A sense of action. Security, stability and opportunity in the words of the conference slogan. Getting Britain building to get Britain moving. Infrastructure is the heart of Osborne's pitch. Devolution to local government is about building. New Wealth Funds – created from council pension funds – are about infrastructure. Planning deregulation is about new homes. There is, indeed, a strain of Stakhanovism about the Chancellor. Though he is focused, laserlike, on the demands of the public and business.

This is all good, but in the end plans have to be delivered and targets met. There is a reason that the UK has struggled for a long time to build more than 130,000 houses a year – and they may well be structural, rather than readily remedied with a quick fix. Likewise rail infrastructure – it is mainly late and over budget. Expect no less of HS2. With big ticket items come big risks, but he is hedging them with the appointment of Andrew Adonis to chair a National Infrastructure Commission to cut through the red tape and delays, and enable Britain's future to be delivered.

"He always has the ability to take just one step too far – be too clever by half"

But the real risks aren't outside. As in life, they are at home. George's challenge is ... George. He always has the ability to take just one step too far – be too clever by half. In the middle of his conference speech he announced the abolition of national business rates – they will be devolved. And with that revenue support for councils will be abolished. Freedom. But at what cost? We don't know – there are no workings showed in the speech. That's Osborne too. Always on the move. Always throwing grenades. Will one of them blow up in his face? There's a very real risk. But that's Osborne – you buy the ticket and you have to take the ride, wherever it goes.